Chapter 1
Author(s)butcherbaker17maker
Updated Mar 13, 2016
Published Mar 13, 2016
Status [M], Completed
Tags mature smut bdsm explicit seventeen jicheol
Bookmark Save (go offline) Report Content Make Readable a a a a
Vernon sighed a little, applying the cream very delicately to his friend’s wrists. “The things I do for you.”
“Because you care.”
“I wish I didn’t have to do this.” His long fingers spread the cream evenly, tenderly massaging it into his skin. “Sorry. Does it hurt much?”
“No more than normal. It can’t be helped, can it?”
Vernon sighed. “There must be some alternative. You have to be able to get hired to do something else – anything else.”
“Find me a job that pays the rent after taxes and requires no skills.”
Vernon’s fingers slid over the red, angry indents in his flat mate’s arms. “He really did you in good, huh.”
“Yeah.” Jihoon was pretending it didn’t sting.
Vernon slowly pulled out some bandages, wrapping them around Jihoon’s wrists gently. “Listen, just do me a favour, apply to a few places.”
“Listen, janitor work isn’t paying anybody’s bills around here.”
“I’ll get a third job.”
“On top of the two you have and college? That’s impossible, even for you.”
“You still make more than I do.”
“Yeah, and I pay the price.” Jihoon sighed, looking at the white on his arms. “Thanks, Vernon, you’re a real help.”
“Anything else?”
“Nothing I need help with,” Jihoon smiled. “You can go off to bed. Get some good rest.”
Vernon nodded and plodded back off to bed: Jihoon winced as his body shifted against the couch. Literally everything hurt, but it couldn’t be helped, and he didn’t want to ask Vernon to bandage the rest of his body up, either. He’d just have to deal with it.
In the middle of the night Jihoon opened up his laptop, uploading new pictures of himself to advertise with. He checked his e-mails, not expecting anything new – he’d filled his quote to pay off the rent this month, only just on time – but there it was, a bright and shiny new e-mail from one of the shadiest websites.
You have 1 new message.
He opened it up.
User670912 – Online now!
Sixty-seven, Jihoon thought slowly, exhausted. Guess that means he’s in his fifties.
User670912: Hello. I see you’ve advertised and I was wondering if your services are available for this Friday.
Friday, Jihoon thought. He couldn’t remember the last time he had two appointments in one week, glancing at his bandaged wrists.
Bunnyboy20: Depends on what time you’d like me.
User670912: Five P.M. Sharpish.
Jihoon thought about it. Vernon usually got home early on Fridays.
Bunnyboy 20: Perfect.
User670912: Grand Hotel in the city centre. Ask for Choi Seungcheol.
Bunnyboy 20: Okay! I can’t wait~
Jihoon could wait. Jihoon’s wrists could certainly wait. But this was part of his job – making his clients believe he was eager.
User 670912 went offline very quickly after that.
Jihoon counted in his head. A hotel appointment – and not just any sleazy hotel, the Grand hotel. If the appointment was met with, with a little luck, he would only need one more regular appointment to make next month’s rent, too. If he had a third and fourth client this month, he could even afford to get Vernon something nice for his birthday – the way best friends should. Maybe even buy meat-
Stop there, Jihoon, the boy had to tell himself. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
He simply shut down his laptop then, curling up on the couch for the night. It was a little more comfortable than the cot in his room.
Vernon’s fingers brushed over his hair lightly. “Hoonie… I’m off to school. I’ll see you tonight.”
Jihoon’s hand moved to grip Vernon’s shirt. “Mm. Gotta tell you. I have another appointment.”
“…when?”
“Friday, at five.”
“That’s too soon.” Vernon moved back to sit with his best friend. “You’re still really beat up from the last appointment.”
“It’s a hotel appointment. They’re too valuable.”
“Jihoon, your body isn’t-”
“I’ll take care of myself until then. I have four days. I won’t take any appointments in the meanwhile. Okay?”
Vernon knew very well he could protest all he liked and it wouldn’t make a button of difference to his friend, so he simply nodded with a sigh, tousling Jihoon’s hair a little. “Sleep a lot.”
Jihoon nodded, already falling back into his dreams.
Friday came sooner than either of the young men had really expected it to. Jihoon had done just as he’d said – not taking any new appointments or clients, not even advertising anything – and Vernon had gone to school and his two jobs just like any other time.
He got home at three – nice and early – to see Jihoon already getting dressed. Hotel appointments were usually classy affairs, demanding a neater outfit. Jihoon didn’t exactly have great clothing, but he felt that as long as his long winter coat covered most of him up, it didn’t matter too much. So it was his regular dress of sneakers and jeans, fitted with an oversized sweater that came down past his fingernails. Clients seemed to like the large sweaters.
Vernon bit his lip